2011 Lappy Awards: Best Laptop Features of the Year

What separates a good laptop from a great one? That’s a tricky question, because there’s no single answer. It could be a supremely comfortable typing experience, speakers that blow you away, or a design so sleek it feels like it’s from the future. Our first-annual Lappy Awards recognize this excellence with prizes in 12 categories, including the above attributes and a host of other specific features that make our winners a cut above the rest.

Best Keyboard: Lenovo ThinkPad X1

Lenovo’s svelte 13-inch ThinkPad X1 makes a great first impression with its 0.8-inch profile, durable soft-touch chassis, and ultra-bright 350-nit screen. But it’s only when you start typing that you truly appreciate the beauty of this machine.

At first glance, the X1’s keyboard may look like a typical island-style layout. However, the key’s curvature and the feedback they provide rival the legendary IBM model M keyboard of the 1980s, right down to the pleasant clicking sound you get while typing. That’s not all; there’s an adjustable backlight for typing in low light, a soft palm rest to properly cradle wrists, and a comfortable slope to the deck. It all adds up to the best notebook typing experience ever.

You mean those Lenovo ads where the parachutist has to get the Lenovo to boot & deploy its chute before it crashes (to show how Lenovo laptops have the fastest boot time) are a lie? Has Apple tried the “boot to deploy parachute” test on a MacBook Air yet?

Joe, have you ever tried a thinkpad keyboard? It won’t make a difference if you only type with two fingers; but if you spend hours touch typing at time, this is the best laptop keyboard you can get. I had a Dell Latitude for over 3 years and when my company finally upgraded me to the ThinkPad X220, it was a huge difference.

Even worse are the now widespread chiclet or island style keyboards. The keys are far apart, they have no curved surface, and they are typically harder to press.

The best keyboard + trackpad is hands down the MacBook Air. Just visit the nearest Apple store to try it for yourself. The wedge shape leads to a comfortable wrist rest. The keys have just the right amount of travel and cushion that it’s almost effortless yet gives enough tactile feedback. And no worries about keys popping out.